Owner jailed for cooking books at Indian restaurant in Moira

Craigavon Courthouse. INPT21-239.

Published:10:41Friday 03 June 2016

A 49-year- old Carryduff restaurateur, who lied about his sales figures so he could steal more than £79,000 in tax, has been sentenced to seven months in jail after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Jainal Abedin, 49, the sole director of Moira Masala Hut Limited, admitted to declaring only part of the cash sales from his business between June 2012 and November 2014.

At the close of business, Abedin would regularly enter a false till reading showing a lower figure for cash sales for that day.

He then declared these fraudulent sales figures in his VAT returns.

Jainal Abedin, who is from Hawthorne Manor, Carryduff, was sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court on 2 June 2016 to 14 months imprisonment; seven in custody followed by seven on licence.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in May to being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT contrary to the VAT Act 1994. The total value of the fraud was £79,545.